Angular surgical blade holder



Dec. 30, 1969 R. A.F1scHL ANGULAR SURGICAL BLADE HOLDER Filed Aug. 9. 19e? 3,486,229 ANGULAR SURGICAL BLADE HOLDER Robert A. Fischl, New York, N.Y., assignor to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NJK., a corporation of Virginia Filed Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 659,412 Int. Cl. R26b 1/00 US. Cl. 30-339 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A surgical blade having a keyhole type longitudinal slot is detachably and replaceably mounted on an elongated tubular handle at an acute angle to the axis of the handle by means of a shaft extending through the handle having a T-shaped head engageable in the keyhole slot, screw threaded means being embodied at the opposite end of the holder adapted to draw the shaft endwise clamping the blade against an angularly arranged flat clamping surface.

THE PRIOR ART IN GENERAL Blades of the general type concerned having a keyhole slot have been in common use for many years and are disclosed in various United States patents such as the patents to Waugh 2,257,141 issued Sept. 30, 1941 and Ringlen et al. 2,751,074 issued lune 19, 1956. Various types of mounting and locking means for holding the blade have been employed. Commonly the means includes an element adapted to engage in the slot, and applying the blade requires sliding the blade longitudinally while it is in a iiexed condition until it falls or snaps into final position. Removal of the blade normally involves similar flexing and endwise manipulation. Because of the extreme sharpness of the blades and their relatively small size the operation of applying and removing a blade with respect to the holder has presented serious hazards. With certain constructions where the blade is snapped into a freely held home position there is a tendency to looseness which is dangerous condition where the instrument is employed in delicate surgical operations.

In most cases the handles have been straight and the blades extended straight out from one end generally coaxial with the handle, but surgical instruments with angularly mounted removable blades have also been designed as shown for example in the patent to De Marco 3,256,- 874 issued June 21, 1966. However, the blade mounting and holding means disclosed therein are generally similar to those described above with the corresponding disadvantages and with the further disadvantage of extending an undesirably large distance radially for some uses at least of the instrument.

Screw threaded means of various types for clamping blades on a holder in general are disclosed in the prior art but insofar as is known not of the character or relation of elements of the present invention.

THE PRESENT INVENTION The instrument disclosed herein is adapted to obviate various disadvantages including those described above. AS shown in representative examples herein the instrument embodies a tubular handle having an angular plane surface at one end for supporting the blade and a locking shaft extending axially of the tubular handle the shaft having a T-shaped head at the blade clamping end parallel to the clamping surface of the holder and the shaft being provided with screw threaded means at the opposite end for axially shifting the shaft and drawing the blade into clamped position on the clamping end of the holder. The blade is easily and safely mounted on the end of the nited States Patent O ICC holder by releasing the shaft and dropping the keyhole shaped blade over the T-shaped head at the wider portion of the keyhole slot and freely sliding the blade endwise so that the narrower portion of the keyhole slot is opposite the T-head of the clamping shaft and the screw threaded means is then operated to draw the blade into firm solid engagement with the beveled clamping surfaceof the holder. In the assembled condition the instrument presents a relatively short radial distance from the blade tip to the central axis of the handle.

The construction, operation and advantages of the instrument will become more fully apparent from the description to follow considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the scope of the invention being defined in the accompanying claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan or elevational view of the instrument in its simplest form with portions broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view showing the individual elements of the instrument of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan or elevational view of an instrument modified in certain respects from that of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale in cross section of the screw threaded means of the instrument of FIGURE 3 for effecting the clamping of the blade; and,

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of a locking ring employed in the assembly of FIGURE 4.

Referring iirst to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be seen that the elements of the instrument include a main tubular handle part 1() having mounted coaxially thereof a clamping shaft 11. The inner end of the tubular holder 10 is provided with a generally plane clamping surface 12 arranged at an angle to the axis of the instrument against which a surgical -blade 13 is adapted to be clamped.

The character of the blade 13 may vary in accordance with standard known types, one such type being pictured in plan in FIGURE 2. Other types are shown in the patents to Waugh 2,257,141 and De Marco 3,256,- 874 cited above. In general they are characterized by a keyhole shaped slot therein which, is illustrated in the present FIGURE 2, includes a wider portion 14 and a narrower portion 15. The blade is provided with the usual sharp cutting edge at 16.

The shaft is provided at the inner blade clamping end with a clamping head 20 which is undercut to form a T-shape with laterally extending anges 21 the flanges being generally parallel to the blade seat 12. The blade seat and correspondingly the blade are arranged at a desired suitable angle A with respect to the axis of the holder which may vary over a considerable range dependent upon circumstances including the particular usage for which the instrument is intended. This angle comprises an acute angle in the range normally of 20 to 50 the angle in the present case being about 35.

Screw threaded means are indicated at 25 for drawing the shaft endwise into 4blade clamping position. In the form of FIGURES 1 and 2 these screw threaded means comprise a nut in the form of a cap 26 having internal threads engaged with the threaded end 27 of the shaft 11, the inner surface of the cap 26 having a smooth engagement with the end of the tubular member 10. Suitable means are preferably incorporated to restrain the shaft from rotary movement relative to the holder 10 but permitting axial movement of the shaft comprising in the present instance a detent or lug in the form of a depression 28 in the sleeve holder tube 10 adapted to engage in longitudinal groove 29 in the shaft 11.

Preferably the outer surface of the tubular holder 10 is roughened as by knurling 30 which, in addition to being decorative, enables a better grip to be maintained on the holder in the lingers of the user. The cap 26 also has the annular band 31 knurled particularly for a better finger gripping surface.

It will be seen that the blade is easily and safely mounted on the holder, this being accomplished by rotating the nut 26 to move the clamping head 20 inwardly away from the clamping surface 12 whereupon the wider area 14 of the blade i`s dropped over the head 20 and the blade easily slid longitudinally to bring the narrower portion 15 of the blade under the clamping head 20 and the nut 26 then tightened to draw the head 20 against the blade and it in turn against the clamping surface 12. The arrangement enables the lblade to be easily applied without danger of cutting the fingers and assures the blade being firmly held in the final clamped position. If desired after clamping of the blade the rear end may be snapped off by pressing the tail part upwardly in FIGURE 1 which results in a break at aline corresponding with the junction 33 between the larger and smaller slots 14 and 15 respectively. The broken ends it may be noted do not extend beyond the clamping surface 12. The blade cutting area is arranged close to the holder and the assembly provides a shortened radial distance from the 4blade tip to the central axis of the holder which is of advantage for working in body openings where a large radius scalpel would present difficulties.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 disclose another form embodying the principles of the invention but including modifications as to certain features. The arrangement includes a tubular handle 40 having in this case an enlarged inner end portion 41 which may be an auxiliary section of tubing press-tted over the end of the main tubular member 4t) the portion 41 being of enlarged diameter and thereby affording a larger clamping surface 42.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 4 the screw threaded means compises in this case a nut 43 freely rotatable on the tubular holder 40 but in assembled relation permanently secured thereon against axial movement.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 4 the screw threaded means comprises in this case a nut 54 freely rotatable on the tubular holder 40 but in assembled relation permanently secured thereon against axial movement. The assembly includes a split ring 44 which may be of plastic material shown as a separate element in FIGURE 5, the split ring in the assembly being engaged in an annular groove 45 in the bore of the nut 43 and a complemental annular groove 46 in the outer surface of the tubular holder 40. In assembling the instrument the annular split ring is compressed to contract its outer diameter and inserted in the groove 45 of the outer nut 43 the tubular member 40 is then inserted in the outer nut 43 and pressure applied causing the annular split ring 44 to expand temporarily and slip over the end of the tubular member and then contract to its relaxed condition into the groove 46 to a position such as that shown substantially in FIGURE 4. To facilitate assembly the end of the tubular member is chamfered, as indicated at 40a. The outer end of the nut 43 may be closed or open but preferably the latter condition, as shown at 48 in FIGURE 4, to facilitate cleaning.

Since further changes may be made in the article described and accordingly different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A surgical instrument embodying a blade and a holder for detachably clamping the blade thereon, said holder comprising a tubular member having a blade clamping surface at one end, a shaft extending longitudinally through said holder including said clamping surface, screw threaded means at the opposite end for adjusting said Shaft longitudinally of the holder, said shaft having a clamping head with a portion at said one end and undercut to a thickness less than that of the shaft diameter and the clamping head, a blade adapted to be engaged over said head said blade having a longitudinal slot therein with a wide portion and a relatively narrower portion, the wide portion being proportioned to receive therethrough the said clamping head, and the narrower portion being smaller than said head but adapted to receive said undercut portion whereby with the blade longitudinally shifted to bring the narrower portion in registration with said head 4retraction of said shaft by said screw threaded means draws the blade into rm engagement with said blade clamping surface.

2. A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 1 in which said clamping head is T-shaped with outer lateral flanges extending substantially parallel to said clamping surface.

3. A surgical instrument in accordance with claim l in which said clamping surface is planar and extends at an acute angle to the axis of said member.

4. A surgical instrument in accordance with claim l in which said clamping surface is planar and extends at an acute angle to the axis of said member, and said clamping head on the shaft is T-shaped with outer lateral flanges extending substantially parallel to said clamping surface said flanges being adapted to extend laterally beyond the edges of the narrower portion of the blade slot and clamp the blade against said clamping surface when the shaft is retracted outwardly by said screw means.

5. A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 4 having key means restraining the shaft from rotation while permitting longitudinal movement with respect 1o said tubular member, and thereby positively maintaining the parallel relation between said clamping surface and said flanges.

6. A surgical instrument comprising a blade holder having means for detachably clamping an apertured blade thereon, said holder comprising a tubular member having a planar blade clamping surface at one end arranged at an acute angle to the axis of said tubular member, a shaft extending longitudinally through said tubular member including said clamping surface, said shaft having an enlarged clamping head located beyond said clamping surface, said clamping head having lateral flanges extending parallel to said clamping surface, said blade having a keyhole aperture with a wide portion adapted to freely receive said clamping head and a relatively narrow portion smaller than said head and slidable thereunder to provide clamping areas by engagement of said flanges. and screw threaded means at the opposite end of said shaft for adjusting it longitudinally of said tubular member to clamp the blade at said narrow portion.

7. A surgical blade holder in accordance with claim 6 in which said screw threaded meansI comprises a nut engageable with screw threads on the outer end of said shaft.

8. A surgical blade holder in accordance with claim 6 having key means restraining the shaft from rotation while permitting longitudinal movement with respect to said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,571 9/1899 Crocker 30-171 X 2,109,108 2/1938 Fesler 30-337 2,215,125 9/1940 Maltz 30-339 2,234,532 3/1941 Nelson 30-337 2,242,700 5/ 1941 Fletcher 30-171 2,431,118 11/1947 Heigle 30-339 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES IA'llf'lN'l OFFCE '1 I r f Y CE'IHICAFL OI* CORRLCHN Patent Ne. 3,4864229 Dated Deeember 3o, 1969 Inventor@ ROBERT A. FISCHL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[u Column l, line 4l, insert a before "dangerous".

Column 2, line 40, change "is" to as yoccurring before '-'llustrated".

delete all of the matter in lines +0 to 43 inclusive. A

Column 3,

June 1970 Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher It MME. ,su JR Comissioner of Patents Aucsting Officer 

